Aryana Solenn Valencia
“How’s the interview? Pasok ka na ba?” I asked Dylan while we were walking around the park.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Not yet. Tatawagan daw nila ako kung pasado ako.”
“Ah, gan’on ba..”
He chuckled.“Yes. Med’yo strict ‘yung interviewee sa akin.”
“What company ba ang in-apply-an mo?” I asked curiously.
He let out a small laugh and squeeze my hand. “Our company.” he replied.
Nangunot ang noo ko saka siya binigyan ng nagtatakang tingin. “Pasado ka na agad d’yan ah? Anak ka ng CEO, bakit gusto mo pang maging intern?”
“I want an experience. And I don’t want a special treatment from my Dad’s employees.” He replied in a serious tone.
I nodded and smiled. I admired him so much about that.
“What company next if you’re done with your own company?” I asked, out of curiosity.
“For my ninth term, mag-iintern kami sa ibang company. We chose Valencia. Six’s working there right now, sa Engineering Department, right?”
“Oh. I didn’t knew that Six’s working in our company. By the way, bakit sa Valencia?”
“Iyon na ang napag-usapan namin ni Corics. After namin dito sa amin, sunod na kami r’yan sa kompanya ninyo.”
Natawa ako. “My Mom is pretty strict.”
“How about you? Are you still stuck on two?” He asked.
I nodded again and sighed. “It’s hard to choose. I have two choices. Pero hindi ako malayang pumili. Sa first choice, being a doctor, I might disappoint myself kasi...”
Umupo kami sa isa sa mga bench dito sa park. Hawak niya pa rin ang kamay ko at patuloy siya sa pagmamasahe n’on.
“Kasi what?”
I sighed in disbelief. “Kasi that’s not what I really want. Then, sa second choice, being a model, I might disappoint my mom.”
He nodded and agreed. “Pursue what your heart really wants. If you’re born to be a model, then you’re not born to be a doctor.”
Matapos ang araw ng pagkikita namin ni Dylan, binabad ko na ang sarili ko sa pag-iisip kung ano ba talaga ang gusto kong gawin.
Three months had passed after I decided to take a medicine. I finally accepted that medicine was really for me.
Ilang araw akong napaisip na magiging doktor na lamang ako. My definition of success, ay ang hindi siya madisappoint, si Mama. Tangina.
Pakiramdam ko, kung nagtagumpay ako pero nadisappoint ko si Mama ay hindi ko iyon malalabel as a success. Ayoko nang gan’on.
[Yeah, on my 7th term, I was accepted to become na intern in our own company.]
“That’s good, ah. How about Corics? He got accepted ba?”
He chuckled. [Unfortunately, yes. We were assigned sa Marketing Department.]
Nananatili lang akong nakikinig sa mga sinasabi niya.
[Oh, I talked a lot.]
“I love hearing your voice. Continue, mahal.”
He chuckled. [I had to change my surname. Gaya ng sinabi ko sa ’yo, ayaw ko ng special treatment from them. I used my grandmother’s surname which was Silvestre.]
“Pero hindi ka ba nila namumukhaan?” I asked curiously.
He let out a small laugh. [No. I removed my glasses and I used a gray contact lenses so they’ll not recognized me.]
I chuckled as a response. “Brainy, mahal.”
[Ako lang ‘to.] He chuckled softly.
He ended the call with his sweet good bye and I love you. Nagpaalam pa siya na kailangan na niya raw matulog nang maaga dahil maaga pa siya bukas.
After that call, I started reading medical books as a review. Nakatapos akong magbasa ng ilan pang libro bago ako tuluyang dapuan ng antok.
“Solenn!” Sean knocked on my door.
I lazily walked towards my door and slowly opened it. Bumungad sa akin ang magkasalubong na kilay ni Sean at nakangunot na noo nito.
“What?!” singhal ko rito.
He checked my whole self. “Mukhang bangag, ampota. Bakit gan’yan hitsura mo?”
“Shut up!” I glared at him. Tinalikuran ko na siya at iniwan ito sa aking pintuan.
I sat back on my chair while reading my notes again. Out of curiousity, Sean entered my room and stared at my books.
Maayos na nakalagay ang mga libro sa kwarto ko. Ang mga kailangan ko munang basahin ang inuna kong nilagay sa table ko para naka organized iyon at hindi nakakalat.
“Are you studying medicine?” Sean asked, out of curiosity.
“Sa tingin mo?” I replied, reading my notes again.
Iniikot niya ang paningin sa k’warto ko, nagtataka at nagugulat sa nasasaksihan. Ano namang kagulat-gulat kung medisina ang kukunin kong kurso?
“But you want to be a model, right?”
I went quiet. Natahimik ako ngunit agad ding umiling. “Well, I want to be a model but being a doctor is my first priority.”
“Kailan ka pa nagsimulang mag-aral ng medisina?” muli at seryosong tanong ni Sean sa akin.
I sighed heavily before I answered him. “Three years ago pa.”
His eyes were immediately filled with amusement and confusion. “What?! You’re a graduating medical student, then!”
Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumango. “Yes.” I lied.
I already graduated as a medical student. And I am just enjoying my life with my dream career.
“Oh damn! Nagagawa niyo pang mag-away ni Mama nang dahil d’yan pero tatlong taon ka na palang nag-aaral ng medisina!” Sean exclaimed.
Napairap ako saka siya sinaway. “Lower down your voice, idiot!”
He glared at me. “You’re crazy, Sol! Nakakastress ka ha!”
I glanced at him. “Anong nakakastress?! Sino ba kasing nagsabi sa ‘yong pumasok ka dito?!”
“Wala!” he shouted. “By the way, what school are you in?”
I shrugged and shook my head. “Secret.”
Nangunot ang noo niya saka ngumisi. “Homeschool? Or... Hmmm...”
“Ano na naman?!”
“May sarili ka bang professor?”
I denied. “Wala.”
He sighed in disbelief. “Saan ka ba nag-aaral at bakit wala akong alam?”
“UP Diliman. Wala kang alam kasi ibang name ang ginagamit ko.” I said and sighed.
“UP Diliman? Wow!” nagugulat niyang saad. “P’wede bang palitan name? Anong name ang ginagamit mo?” nagtataka niyang tanong.
“Kapag ako, niloloko mo lang ako ah, isusumbong talaga kita kay Mama!”
Tinignan ko siya nang matalim na nakapagpatahimik sa kan’ya. “Mukha ba akong nagbibiro, ha?”
Inis siyang tumingin sa akin saka pinagkrus ang kan’yang braso. “Anong name mo? Tanginang ‘yan, lakas ng tama mo ah.”
I chuckled and smirked. “Mara Villanueva.”